Written Answers Monday 10 December 2007

Scottish Executive

Blind and Partially Sighted People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take in response to the RNIB Scotland’s report, Make it count , on the election experiences of people with sight loss.

John Swinney: I welcome the RNIB report into the experiences of blind and partially sighted people at the 2007 Scottish elections. The recommendations made in the report, in respect to the Scottish local government elections, will be considered and taken forward alongside the recommendations made in the Gould Report.

Community Planning Partnerships

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-1392 by Stewart Maxwell on 29 November 2007 ( Official Report , c. 3935-36), whether it will list all the contributor funds which make up the £145 million regeneration fund and what the value is of each fund.

Stewart Maxwell: Introduction of the new fund involves replacement of seven current funding streams and their associated monitoring regimes. The funds involved are: Community Regeneration Fund; Community Voices Programme; Working for Families; Financial Inclusion Fund; Changing Children’s Services; Workforce Plus, and More Choices, More Chances.

  As these separate funding streams have been replaced by one new fund, no value is attributable to each.

Council Tax

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding has been requested by Aberdeen City Council for education services as part of the funding settlement intended to achieve a council tax freeze.

Maureen Watt: No request for additional funding for education services has been received from Aberdeen City Council.

  It is for local authorities to allocate their total available to individual services on the basis of local needs and priorities.

Courts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decision to unify the courts in Grampian Highlands and Islands, who will make the decision to move business from sheriff courts to the new JP courts.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is the sole public prosecution authority in Scotland. It is for the Procurator Fiscal to decide, in the public interest, on the appropriate summary court where prosecution in court is merited. As is made clear in the COPFS Prosecution Code, the general rule is that cases should be taken in the lowest competent court unless there is some good reason for prosecuting in a higher court.

  A copy of the code is available on the COPFS website at: www.copfs.gov.uk/publications/2001/05/prosecutioncode.

Digital Inclusion

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on implementing the aims of Digital Inclusion In Partnership.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is broadly supportive of the aims of the previous government’s Digital Inclusion In Partnership Strategy . Implementation of the strategy has been progressed in line with the action plan.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated for the Violence Against Women Fund in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: £3.1 million was allocated to the Violence Against Women Fund for 2007-08.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be rolled into the local authority settlement for the Violence Against Women Fund in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, an element of the funding ring-fenced in the Violence Against Women Fund will from 1 April 2008, be absorbed into the main local government settlement.

  The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the element from the Violence Against Women Fund will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Domestic Violence

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address the increase in reported domestic abuse incidents in light of the recently published statistics which show a 7% increase from 45,812 in 2005-06 to 48,801 in 2006-07.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is continually looking to see how it can improve what is done to address domestic abuse in Scotland. We recognise that there is under-reporting of incidents of domestic abuse. The increase in reported incidents of domestic abuse may be attributed to more people recognising that all forms of domestic abuse are wrong and reporting such incidents to the police.

  The rise in the number of reported incidents may also be attributed to the highly successful publicity campaign, which runs annually from 26 December until the end of January, evaluation of which has shown that over 78% of the population have seen or heard of the campaign. The campaign will run again this year.

  The Scottish Government’s strategic approach to domestic abuse focuses around the themes of protection, prevention and provision. All three themes contribute not only to stopping abuse occurring but also to tackling repeat incidents. We will continue with this approach in the coming period.

  More than £40 million has been committed over the next three years to support organisations working with women and children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse or other aspects of violence against women.

Domestic Violence

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to run the "Domestic Abuse: There is no excuse" campaign over the Christmas and New Year period to raise awareness of domestic violence and its consequences.

Stewart Maxwell: Yes. The campaign will run again this year from 26 December 2007 until the end of January 2008.

Domestic Violence

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage more victims of domestic violence to report incidents.

Stewart Maxwell: It is widely acknowledged that many incidents of domestic abuse go unreported to the police. There are a number of reasons for this, for example, victims experience fear and shame as common effects of domestic abuse. In addition, under reporting may also be caused by a perpetrator physically preventing a victim reporting the domestic abuse. A priority for the Scottish Government is to ensure the interests and needs of victims are central to the way the criminal justice system responds to crime.

  There has been a rise in the number of incidents being reported to the police, and this may be attributed to the highly successful publicity campaign, which runs annually from 26 December until the end of January, evaluation of which has shown that over 78% of the population have seen or heard of the campaign. The campaign will run again this year.

  The Scottish Government’s strategic approach to domestic abuse focuses around the themes of protection, prevention and provision. All three themes contribute not only to stopping abuse occurring but also to tackling repeat incidents. We will continue with this approach in the coming period.

  More than £40 million has been committed over the next three years to support organisations working with women and children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse or other aspects of violence against women.

Domestic Violence

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the real-terms increase in funding for violence against women and domestic abuse will be in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: The following table shows the Scottish Government’s funding for the Equality Unit and Education budgets, to provide support services for women and children affected by domestic abuse and those affected by the broader issues of violence against women (million):

  

 
 Spending Review 2004
 Spending Review 2007


 2007-08
 2008-09
 2009-10
 2010-11
 Total
 Increase over 3 years on actual 2007-08 allocation


 Equality Budget
14.4 baseline 16.9 actual allocation
 18.8
 20.8
 21.4
 61.0
 10.3


 Violence Against Women (included in Equality Budget)
7.2 baseline 8.7 actual allocation
9.9(14%) 
11.9(37%)
12.58(45%)
 34.38
 8.28


 Education Spending on Violence Against Women (not in Equality Budget)
 None
 5
 3
 2
 10
 10

Domestic Violence

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the Protection from Abuse (Scotland) Act 2001 is effective in dealing with incidents of domestic violence involving an ex-spouse or ex-partner, in light of the increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents since 1999-2000 from 29% to 34%.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling domestic abuse and ensuring that those affected by it are given the support they need and those perpetrating it are dealt with effectively. It will continue to look at how it can improve what it does to address domestic abuse.

  The increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents involving an ex-spouse or ex-partner mirror the overall increase in reporting. This increase may be attributed to more people recognising that all forms of domestic abuse are wrong and reporting such incidents to the police.

  The rise in the number of reported incidents may also be attributed to the highly successful publicity campaign, which runs annually from 26 December until the end of January, evaluation of which has shown that over 78% of the population have seen or heard of the campaign. The campaign will run again this year.

  When an initial evaluation of the Protection from Abuse (Scotland) Act 2001 was carried out in 2003, it was found that the act had been successful in increasing access to powers of arrest. In 2005 the then Executive wrote to over 180 organisations to remind them of the various legal provisions in Scotland designed to protect against abuse. In addition to this, during the engagement with key stakeholders during the passage of the Family Law (Scotland) Bill it was identified that solicitors were familiar with the 2001 Act. The Law Society of Scotland said in its written evidence to the Justice 1 Committee that the 2001 Act "is the principal piece of legislation containing powers of arrest and is most widely used".

Domestic Violence

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why it listed the Children’s Services – Women’s Aid Fund and the Violence Against Women Fund on page 75 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 as being rolled up into settlement in 2008-09 if these funds are not to be rolled up into the local government settlement.

Stewart Maxwell: The budget document listed the Violence against Women Fund and the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund but did not clarify that it was only an element of these funds which was being rolled into the local government settlement. However, the Minister for Communities and Sport made clear to Parliament on 22 November 2007 that only an element of the Violence Against Women Fund and the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund is to be rolled up into the local government settlement.

  Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, an element of the funding ring-fenced in the Violence Against Women Fund and Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund will from 1 April 2008, be absorbed into the main local government settlement.

  The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the element from the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund and Violence Against Women Fund will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Domestic Violence

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget lines in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 include the funding from the Children’s Services – Women’s Aid Fund and the Violence Against Women Fund which will not be rolled up into the local government finance settlement for 2008-09.

Stewart Maxwell: This funding is included in the Promoting Equalities budget.

Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how effective it considers the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004 have been in preventing antisocial behaviour involving fireworks.

John Swinney: We are monitoring the effectiveness of current regulations and how they can contribute to safer and stronger communities. Although there was an encouraging reduction of 26.5% in the number of fireworks or bonfire related incidents reported to the police this year during the seven weeks around 5 November 2007, to the lowest figure since records were first collected in 2002, it is too soon to decide if further controls are required. If we feel the regulations are not as effective as we would wish, then we will of course look at what further measures might be required.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the production of a draft bill on flooding.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government will be consulting fully on its proposals in the early New Year.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will appoint a bill team leader for a Flooding Bill.

Michael Russell: There is already a team in place that deals with flooding policy and prevention matters and this team are progressing the Flooding Bill.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the capital grant allocated to local authorities for flood defence schemes will be spent on sustainable flood management, in accordance with declared government policies.

Michael Russell: As agreed in the concordat, there will be a move towards a Single Outcomes Agreement with each local authority. This will be based on the agreed set of national outcomes (underpinned by agreed national indicators), and local outcomes to take account of local priorities. Each local authority will be required to submit a single report setting out their progress and achievements towards the agreed national outcomes.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the capital grant allocated to local authorities for flood defence schemes will be ring-fenced.

Michael Russell: No.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how any underspend from the capital grant allocations to local authorities for flood defence schemes will be used.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for flood prevention and coast protection, will be provided by means of a block grant.

  It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to allocate the capital grant for flood defences to local authorities and what mechanism will be used for distribution of the available resources between authorities.

Michael Russell: Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, the ring-fence around the flood prevention and coast protection will be removed from 1 April 2008, with the funding being absorbed into the main local government settlement.

  The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for implementation of the flood prevention and coast protection will be provided by means of a block grant. That allocation will take account of exposure to flood risk and the status of existing schemes.

  Each councils block grant will take account of both the flood risk to be managed in its area and flood management measures already underway.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations have been made under the 2007 spending review for demonstration projects on sustainable flood management.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government have made available £4.8 million over the spending review for flood prevention and coast protection research purposes.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations have been made to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or other appropriate authority under the 2007 spending review to prepare for the implementation of the EU floods directive.

Michael Russell: As a result of this year’s Spending Review, SEPA will receive additional Grant in Aid provision of £19.8 million over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. This settlement reflects the Scottish Government’s acknowledgement of the range of unavoidable new duties, including responsibilities flowing from implementation of the EU Floods Directive that will fall to the organisation over the spending review period. Grant-in-Aid provision is not hypothecated, it is a matter for SEPA to determine its own expenditure plans within the resources allocated and in line with ministers’ policies and priorities.

Flood Prevention

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been made allocated to South Lanarkshire Council for flood prevention in each year since 2005 and how much will be allocated in each year to 2011.

Michael Russell: These are the amounts allocated to South Lanarkshire Council since 2005 are shown in the following table:

  

 Year
 Amount


 2006-07
£520,861


 2007-08
£836,545



  Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, the ring fence around the Flood Prevention and Coast Protection will be removed from 1 April 2008, with the funding being absorbed into the main local government settlement.

  The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for implementation of the Flood Prevention and Coast Protection will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding commitments currently entered into, and the estimates of what might need to be entered into before the end of 2007-08, in relation to flood prevention and coast protection, as referred to at the meeting of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee on 21 November 2007, included estimates for flood protection work planned for Rothes and, if so, what estimate it has made of the cost of such works and for which years they are planned.

Michael Russell: No funding commitments have been entered into or planned for Rothes for 2007-08. The Rothes Flood Prevention Scheme is currently undergoing the statutory process and objections to confirmation have been under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961. Accordingly for a Public Local Inquiry is to be held in February 2008 and therefore the outcome cannot be predetermined.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be provided from the flood and coast protection budget to (a) Glasgow City Council, (b) Falkirk Council, (c) the City of Edinburgh Council, (d) North Ayrshire Council, (e) Fife Council, (f) Moray Council and (g) South Lanarkshire Council in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09, (iii) 2009-10 and (iv) 2010-11, as referred to at the meeting of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee on 21 November 2007, and for which particular schemes in each of these councils’ areas funding is intended.

Michael Russell: At this stage we expect to provide the following funding for 2007-08:

  

 Local Authority
 Amount


 Glasgow City Council
 5,728,000


 Falkirk Council
 641,000


 City of Edinburgh Council
 12,343,000


 North Ayrshire Council
 968,000


 Fife Council
 2,704,000


 Moray Council
 3,429,000


 South Lanarkshire
 1,236,000



  Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, the ring-fence around the Flood Prevention and Coast Protection will be removed from 1 April 2008, with the funding being absorbed into the main local government settlement.

  The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the funding for implementation of the flood prevention and coast protection will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Flood Prevention

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3598 by Michael Russell on 5 September 2007, to which local authorities the £19.5 million for flood prevention was allocated, showing the original bid made by each.

Michael Russell: The following awards have been made;

  

 Local Authority
 Grant Offer


 Moray
£455,000


 West Lothian
£22,000


 South Lanarkshire
£836,000


 East Ayrshire
£6,672,000


 Fife
£3,638,000


 City of Edinburgh
£7,900,000

Flood Prevention

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3598 by Michael Russell on 5 September 2007, which local authorities applied for flood prevention funding but were unsuccessful and for what reasons they were unsuccessful.

Michael Russell: Grant is only available to those authorities carrying out this year confirmed flood prevention schemes which meet our criteria. No others applied.

Flood Prevention

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3598 by Michael Russell on 5 September 2007, how many applications for flood prevention funding are in progress, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) amount applied for.

Michael Russell: Since 5 September, grant applications from the following local authorities are in progress:

  

 Local Authority
 Grant Applied For


 North Ayrshire
£968,000


 City of Edinburgh
£4.4 million


 Glasgow City
£5.7 million


 Moray
£3.4 million


 Falkirk
£641,000



  In addition, East Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian Councils have advised that they intend submitting detailed costed applications by 14 December 2007.

Forestry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27234 by Rhona Brankin on 20 July 2006, whether it will list subsequent (a) projects and (b) applicants seeking financial assistance from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund, also showing whether each application was successful and, if so, the amount (i) applied for and (ii) awarded.

Michael Russell: To date, 20 projects have been approved and awarded financial support through the Strategic Timber Transport Fund. Six further projects are under consideration with another four under revision by the applicants. Three projects have been rejected, but two of these have been subsequently accepted as new applications after significant revision.

  Full details of all applications received to date under the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme are summarised in the following table:

  

 Project Title
 Applicant Name
 Amount Awarded
 Potential Award
 Current Position
 Overall Project Value


 Timber Transport Officer – Stirling and Tayside
 Stirling and Tayside Timber Transport Group
£25,000
 
 On target
£34,000


 South of Scotland Timber Logistics Programme
 Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway
£68, 900
 
 On target
£457,645


 Programme Manager/Co-ordinator (Argyll)
 Argyll and Bute Council
£94,000
 
 On target
£152,000


 Rosneath
 Tilhill Forestry Ltd
 
 
 Rejected
 


 Eskdalemuir
 Tilhill Forestry Ltd
£2,918,448
 
 On target
£4,468,448


 Study of performance of forest and public roads under construction
 Forest Enterprise
£232,500
 
 On target
£336,500


 Project Co-ordinator, Highland and Grampian
 Forestry Civil Engineering
 
 
 Rejected
 


 Floating Pier
 Scottish Woodlands Ltd
 
 
 Rejected
 


 Rannoch Rail Head
 Tilhill Forestry Ltd
 
£128,000
 Under consideration
£371,500


 Developing and promoting a Timber Transport Strategy and solutions for the Highlands
 Forest Enterprise on behalf of the Highland Timber Transport Group
£43,333
 
 On target
£65,000


 Fersit Road, Lochaber
 Highland Council
£100,000
 
 On target
£850,000


 Dunoon Timber Haul Route
 UPM Tilhill
£324,034
 
 On target
£586,200


 Glen Masson – B836 link
 Scottish Woodlands Ltd
£44,085
 
 On target
£92,771


 Barrhill railhead catchment
 FCS Galloway Forest District
£1,682,337
 
 On target
£2,687,437


 B8024 Tarbert Bypass
 Argyll and Bute Council
£600,000
 
 Delayed
£802,000


 Argyll Central Tyre Inflation
 Argyll and Bute Council
 
£237,000
 Being revised
£355,000


 Rathad-Mara (Sea Road)
 Scottish Woodlands Ltd
 
£150,000
 Being revised
£190,000


 Arran Link Road
 Forest Enterprise
£318,000
 
 Delayed
£623,680


 South of Scotland Timber Transport Officer
 Dumfries and Galloway Council
£85,000
 
 On target
£135,000


 Driver Training Programme
 FC Learning and Development
£17,725
 
 On target
£34,445


 Facilitating change in Forestry Industry supply chains, South of Scotland Focal Study
 ConFor
 
£77,500
 Being revised
£118,500


 Ardfern Bypass
 J Robin Dixon
£39,990
 
 On target
£99,975


 B836 phase 2
 Argyll and Bute Council Operations Department
£655,000
 
 On target
£1,230,000


 Glenstriven Timber Haul Route
 UPM Tilhill
 
£218,000
 Being revised
£396,700


 Peaton Hill Link Road
 Tilhill Forestry Ltd
£45,000
 
 On target
£90,000


 Hareshawmuir Road Project
 UPM Tilhill
£37,000
 
 Delayed
£120,000


 Moray Strategic Timber Transport Road Infrastructure Project
 Moray Council
£65,000
 
 On target
£131,000


 A897 Partnership Project
 Highland Council
 
£400,000
 Under consideration
£500,000


 Upper Loch Fyne Pier, Technical and Financial Feasability Study
 Argyll and Bute Council
£6,000
 
 On target
£12,000


 Marr area
 Aberdeenshire Council
 
£82,900
 Under consideration
£165,800


 Tomdoun Link Road
 J Robin Dixon
 
£74,579
 Under consideration
£186,447


 South West Glendaruel Timber Haul Route
 Argyll and Bute Council
 
£253,450
 Under consideration
£741,500


 North West Mull Community Woodlands
 North West Mull Community Woodlands Company Ltd
 
£398,530
 Under consideration
£936,465


 Timberlink Project (inshore shipping from Argyll)
 Forestry Commission Scotland
£1,800,000
 This project is supported through the fund and not the scheme
 On target
£1,800,000


 Total
 
£9,201,352
£2,019,959
 33

Health

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to allocate more health resources to areas of disadvantage over the next three-year spending period.

Nicola Sturgeon: Funding allocations to the 14 territorial health boards for the provision of Hospital and Community Services and GP prescribing are currently based on shares calculated through the Arbuthnott formula, and this will continue for at least the first year of the next three-year spending review period. This formula includes an adjustment for the additional needs for healthcare associated with "morbidity and life circumstances" – reflecting the greater healthcare needs of disadvantaged areas. Progress towards achieving the full Arbuthnott targets will increasingly result in shares which take account of these additional needs. A number of further healthcare resources are allocated on the basis of different funding formulae, ensuring that specific funds are directed to the appropriate target populations. Many of these are therefore targeted specifically at disadvantaged areas. This approach will continue throughout the next three-year spending review period.

  The Arbuthnott formula has been reviewed by the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC). The NRAC recommendations propose adjustments to the Morbidity and Life Circumstances element of the formula which they believe will more accurately reflect the increased need for health care services in areas of deprivation and poor underlying health, taking account of different patterns of need in different service areas. I am currently considering the committee’s recommendations, along with the views of NHS boards and the Health and Sport Committee. Any change to health board allocation formula resulting from my decision will not take effect until 2009-10 at the earliest.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in integrating the IT systems of health providers.

Nicola Sturgeon: Good progress has been made with the main NHS Scotland IT system designed for electronic communication between health providers, notably GP practices and hospitals. This system, known as SCI Gateway, is currently being used to transmit some 70% of all referrals in secure and encrypted form.

Healthy Living

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations about the future of the Janny’s Hoose in Inverness.

Shona Robison: Yes. During the last year, including under the previous administration, the Scottish Government has received representations about the future of the Janny’s Hoose Healthy Living Centre in Inverness.

Healthy Living

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from the Highland Council about the future of the Janny’s Hoose in Inverness.

Shona Robison: No. The Scottish Government has not received any representations from the Highland Council about the future of the Janny’s Hoose Healthy Living Centre in Inverness.

Healthy Living

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support healthy living centres and what additional funding it will provide for their support when existing lottery funding ends.

Shona Robison: Community health initiatives, such as healthy living centres, can play a vital role in complementing public services, through effective approaches to improving people’s health in hard-to-reach communities. The Scottish Government provides funding to health boards and local government to support local services. It is then a matter for boards and local authorities to determine their local priorities.

  The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing wrote to the chairs of the territorial health boards on 25 November 2007 asking them to consider the importance of community health initiatives in their area and what support can be offered to ensure that valued activities for health improvement in the community are not lost.

  The Scottish Government is currently implementing the December 2006 recommendations from the Community-led Supporting and Developing Healthy Communities Task Group. This will deliver a range of measures designed to improve access for community-led and voluntary bodies to skills and advice to enable them to improve delivery of services, to demonstrate effectiveness in improving health and to work better with funders in meeting the needs of the communities served. Tailored local support will bring funders and service providers together to enable better joint working in the future.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) East Dunbartonshire will be eligible to apply for support under the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time buyers and how many successful applications it estimates there will be from each of the two local authority areas.

Stewart Maxwell: The LIFT initiative – our Low-cost Initiative for First-Time buyers – is a key part of the package of measures to revitalise Scotland’s housing set out in the Firm Foundations discussion document published on 31 October 2007.

  LIFT currently includes a mix of government grants to private developers, Registered Social Landlords and individuals to support a range of low cost home ownership schemes, particularly shared equity. However, through the Firm Foundations consultation process, we are seeking views on other potential measures which could be incorporated within LIFT. The number of households in both West and East Dunbartonshire who will be eligible to apply for support through LIFT will therefore depend on LIFT’s future composition. At this stage it would be difficult to estimate how many applications will be successful. However, under existing LIFT schemes, we aim to assist at least 1,800 households in to home ownership this year.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable houses are estimated to be needed in Bearsden and Milngavie to meet housing shortages in that district which are the greatest in Scotland and how many of the affordable houses it plans to have built over the next three years will be in Bearsden and Milngavie.

Stewart Maxwell: East Dunbartonshire Council, as the strategic housing authority for Bearsden and Milngavie, has statutory responsibility for assessing and addressing local housing market needs, including shortages of affordable housing in the area. In its most recent housing needs assessment (2005) it identified an annual need for an additional 79 affordable units in Bearsden and eight in Milngavie over the next five years to 2010.

  In our recently published discussion document, Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland we have set out proposals for improving the supply and choice of affordable housing nationally. Last month’s Spending Review announcement set out plans to invest over £1.5 billion in affordable housing over the next three years. The Scottish Government expects that this increased budget will deliver more new affordable homes – including social rented houses and houses for low cost home ownership – than planned for 2005-08. Decisions have yet to be taken on the detailed composition of the affordable housing investment programme for the new spending review period, 2008-11.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the affordable housing shortage, in light of it no longer ring fencing local authority funding specifically for this purpose.

Stewart Maxwell: It is incorrect to say that funding for affordable housing is no longer ring-fenced. Table 21.03 of the Scottish Budget document published on 14 November 2007 shows the affordable housing budget for the years 2008-11. In addition, there is a further £119.1 million a year for affordable housing which is ring-fenced in the local government budget.

  In total, the spending plans for affordable housing over the period 2008-11 are 19% higher than the spending plans for the period 2005-08. With the additional funding provided as a result of the Spending Review, we expect to approve over the period 2008-11 more new affordable houses than will be approved over the period 2005-08. Precisely how many more will depend on how the social housing sector responds to the proposals in our discussion document, Firm Foundations: the future of housing in Scotland, for achieving better value from available public expenditure.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to build 30,000 affordable homes over the next three years, as set out in the SNP manifesto, in light of the reduction in the affordable housing budget by 6% in real terms next year.

Stewart Maxwell: The SNP manifesto made no commitment to build 30,000 affordable homes over the next three years. In total, the spending plans for affordable housing over the period 2008-11 are 19% higher than the spending plans for the period 2005-08. With the additional funding provided as a result of the Spending Review, we expect to approve over the period 2008-11 more new affordable houses than will be approved over the period 2005-08. Precisely how many more will depend on how the social housing sector responds to the proposals in our discussion document, Firm Foundations: the future of housing in Scotland , for achieving better value from available public expenditure.

Justice

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police officers have used stop and search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 since the granting of these powers.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Kenny MacAskill: Scottish police forces have made 89 person searches and 52 vehicle searches under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Justice

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) murders and (b) violent offences linked to the use of alcohol occurred (i) in the home, (ii) in the community and (iii) on licensed premises in each year since 1999, broken down by constabulary.

Kenny MacAskill: Figures on the location of violent offences linked to the use of alcohol are not held centrally. The figures requested for homicides are shown in the following table. Due to the relatively small numbers involved, percentages have not been calculated. This is consistent with the format in which the figures are published. Updated homicide figures are due to be published on 18 December 2007.

  Number of Victims of Homicides Linked to the use of Alcohol by Location, Year Recorded and Police Force Area, 2000-01 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force Area
 2000-01


 All Victims
 House, Dwelling etc, incl. Garden of House
 Community1
 Licensed Premises2
 Unknown


 All
 52
 35
 16
 1
 -


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian
 6
 3
 3
 -
 -


 Tayside
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Fife
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 5
 5
 -
 -
 -


 Central
 3
 1
 2
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 35
 24
 10
 1
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -



  

 Police Force Area
 2001-02


 All Victims
 House, Dwelling etc, incl. Garden of House
 Community1
 Licensed Premises2
 Unknown


 All
 49
 28
 20
 1
 -


 Northern
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -


 Tayside
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Fife
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 8
 6
 1
 1
 -


 Central
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 30
 14
 16
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 2
 1
 -
 -



  

 Police Force Area
 2002-03


 All victims
 House, Dwelling etc, incl. Garden of House
 Community1
 Licensed Premises2
 Unknown


 All
 56
 33
 23
 -
 -


 Northern
 4
 1
 3
 -
 -


 Grampian
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside
 7
 3
 4
 -
 -


 Fife
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 8
 7
 1
 -
 -


 Central
 4
 2
 2
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 30
 17
 13
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -



  

 Police Force Area
 2003-04


 All Victims
 House, Dwelling etc, incl. Garden of House
 Community1
 Licensed Premises2
 Unknown


 All
 47
 32
 14
 1
 -


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -


 Fife
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 10
 10
 -
 -
 -


 Central
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 32
 19
 12
 1
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -



  

Police Force Area
 2004-05


 All Victims
 House, Dwelling etc, incl. Garden of House
 Community1
 Licensed Premises2
 Unknown


 All
 44
 28
 14
 1
 1


 Northern
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Fife
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 11
 8
 3
 -
 -


 Central
 4
 3
 1
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 27
 17
 9
 1
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1



  

 Police Force Area
 2005-06


 All Victims
 House, Dwelling etc, incl. Garden of House
 Community1
 Licensed Premises2
 Unknown


 All
 43
 20
 21
 1
 1


 Northern
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Tayside
 4
 2
 2
 -
 -


 Fife
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders
 6
 3
 2
 1
 -


 Central
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Strathclyde
 28
 12
 15
 -
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -



  Notes:

  Data for 1999-2000 are not available.

  1. Community category includes all categories other than "House, Dwelling etc" and "Licensed premises".

  2. Recorded under "Licensed Premises (bar, club, etc)" in homicide data collection.

Justice

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the time bar of 1964 will still apply to any further proceedings being taken in connection with cases of historical institutional abuse in the care sector, following the publication of Historical Abuse Systemic Review: Residential Schools and Children’s Homes in Scotland 1950 to 1995 .

Kenny MacAskill: The Historical Abuse Systemic Review: Residential Schools and Children’s Homes in Scotland 1950 to 1995 does not affect the law on damages. The Scottish Law Commission (SLC) Report on Personal Injury Actions: Limitation and Prescribed Claims was published on 5 December. The report recommends, amongst other things, that claims in respect of a personal injury extinguished by negative prescription before 1984 (i.e. claims relating to events alleged to have taken place prior to 26 September 1964) should not be revived and that a special category in respect of personal injury resulting from childhood institutional abuse should not be created. The Scottish Government is currently considering all the recommendations contained in the commission’s report. Ministers are very sympathetic to survivors of historic in-care/institutional childhood abuse and, as well as considering the recommendations in the SLC Report, specific proposals for survivors of historic in-care and institutional abuse are being developed as part of the wider Survivor Scotland Strategy.

Ministerial Correspondence

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister will reply to my letter of 17 August 2007 regarding meetings held with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Richard Lochhead: The First Minister replied to your letter on 30 November 2007.

NHS Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much backpaid salary NHS boards estimate that they will have to pay in the next 24 months to staff who have yet to be banded under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) profession and (b) board.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  I can report however that health boards are making steady progress towards the conclusion of the implementation of Agenda for Change pay, and the vast majority of staff now assimilated have already received arrears of pay.

NHS Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what target date NHS boards have set for completing the banding process for NHS staff under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) profession and (b) board.

Nicola Sturgeon: There has been no target date set for the conclusion of the implementation of Agenda for Change pay. However, I can confirm that health boards are very close to completing this process, with around 18,000 of the 140,000 plus substantive staff across NHSScotland still waiting to assimilate to the new pay bands. A substantial number of these staff are actually in receipt of their job evaluation outcome, and therefore know which of the pay bands they will be moving to.

  Health boards are aware of the need to conclude assimilation as quickly and effectively as possible, and progress towards this continues to be monitored and supported by the Scottish Government.

NHS Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many job analysis questionnaires have been completed in the last year by NHS boards for staff who have yet to be salary banded under Agenda for Change, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  I can, however, advise that approximately 7% of the NHSScotland workforce covered by Agenda for Change do not match national job profiles, and will therefore have to complete a job evaluation questionnaire as part of the job evaluation process.

NHS Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of staff working in the NHS in the last 12 months are appealing their new salary bandings under Agenda for Change, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) profession.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are currently in the early stages of gathering data on the number of job evaluation review requests which have been received by health boards. Initial indications are that approximately 20% members of staff are seeking a review of their Agenda for Change job evaluation outcome across NHSScotland. The information held centrally does not break this down by health board or profession.

  Of the reviews processed to date 14% have resulted in post holders being awarded a higher band while in 85% of cases the initial decision was found to have been correct. 1% of cases were re-directed to another Agenda for Change process related to job evaluation and are currently under further consideration.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it will give that any financial support made available to assist farmers to meet their obligations in respect of the increased closed period in the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Action Programme will not come from Scottish Rural Development Plan resources to the detriment of other areas of agriculture.

Richard Lochhead: I do not consider that the use of the Scottish Rural Development Programme resources to improve manure and slurry storage on livestock farms in the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones is to the detriment of the other areas of agriculture.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive from where in the budget any financial support made available to assist farmers to meet their obligations in respect of the increased closed period in the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Action Programme will come.

Richard Lochhead: Farmers in the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones will be eligible for Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) options.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence was used to designate the Nith Valley as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ); when such evidence was collated, and when the designation of the Nith Valley as a NVZ will be reviewed.

Richard Lochhead: Lower Nithsdale NVZ was designated following a risk assessment undertaken by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in 2001-02. Groundwater sites in the Nith Valley were reported by BGS in 2002 and again in 2004. Designation of the NVZs must be reviewed at least every four years. The Scottish NVZs were last reviewed in 2005-06.

Non-Domestic Rates

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Western Isles parliamentary constituency will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for the local authority area concerned on the Scottish Assessors Portal www.saa.gov.uk . This information is shown as follows:

  

 Number of Properties
 Rateable Value of Property


 Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
 Total up to £15,000


 Western Isles/ Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 1,733
 62
 94
 1,889



  Notes:

  (i) The rateable value ranges shown in the table correspond to those on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

  (ii) The table shows the number of non-domestic properties (excluding zero-rated subjects) with rateable values of up to £15,000 in the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority area, which is co-terminous with the boundaries of the Western Isles parliamentary constituency.

  (iii) The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties in each area, because some businesses have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland which a business owns, leases or is otherwise entitled to occupy;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes, and

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

Non-Domestic Rates

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Hamilton South parliamentary constituency will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for each of the local authority areas concerned on the Scottish Assessors Portal www.saa.gov.uk . This information is shown as follows:

  

 Number of Properties
 Rateable Value of Property


 Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
 Total up to £15,000


 South Lanarkshire
 4,956
 626
 905
 6,487



  Notes:

  (i) The rateable value ranges shown in the table correspond to those on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

  (ii) The table shows the number of non-domestic properties, excluding zero-rated properties, with rateable values of up to £15,000 in all of South Lanarkshire local authority area. The Hamilton South parliamentary constituency falls within this area.

  (iii) The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties in each area, because some businesses have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland which a business owns, leases or is otherwise entitled to occupy;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes;

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

Non-Domestic Rates

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the East Kilbride parliamentary constituency will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for each of the local authority areas concerned on the Scottish Assessors Portal www.saa.gov.uk . This information is shown as follows:

  

 Number of Properties
 Rateable Value of Property


 Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
 Total up to £15,000


 South Lanarkshire
 4,956
 626
 905
 6,487



  Notes:

  (i) The rateable value ranges shown in the table correspond to those on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

  (ii) The table shows the number of non-domestic properties, excluding zero rated properties, with rateable values of up to £15,000 in all of South Lanarkshire local authority area. East Kilbride parliamentary constituency falls within this area.

  (iii) The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties in each area, because some businesses have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland which a business owns, leases or is otherwise entitled to occupy;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes, and

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

Non-Domestic Rates

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Falkirk East parliamentary constituency will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for the local authority area concerned on the Scottish Assessors Portal ( www.saa.gov.uk ). This information is shown as follows:

  

 Number of Properties
 Rateable Value of Property


 Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
 Total Up To £15,000


 Falkirk
 2,702
 281
 406
 3,389



  Notes:

  (i) The rateable value ranges shown in the table correspond to those on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

  (ii) The table shows the number of non-domestic properties (excluding zero-rated subjects) with rateable values of up to £15,000 in all of Falkirk, which is the local authority area in which the Falkirk East parliamentary constituency is situated.

  (iii) The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties in each area, because some businesses have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland which a business owns, leases or is otherwise entitled to occupy;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes, and

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

Non-Domestic Rates

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on economic growth of its plans to reduce business rates for small businesses and whether it will publish any such assessment.

John Swinney: As outlined in our Government Economic Strategy, lower business taxation is part of a broader package of measures that have a track record internationally of creating a supportive business environment and of increasing sustainable economic growth. We will be in a position to assess the contribution the Small Business Bonus Scheme will make to increasing sustainable economic growth once that Scheme is fully implemented.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6508 on 27 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Non-Domestic Rates

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the impact on economic growth at (a) Scotland-wide and (b) local authority level of its plans to reduce business rates for small businesses.

John Swinney: Once the Small Business Bonus Scheme is fully implemented, we will be in a position to assess its impact on increasing sustainable economic growth. We currently have no specific plans to monitor that impact at local authority level.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6508 on 27 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Non-Domestic Rates

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Perth parliamentary constituency will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for the local authority area concerned on the Scottish Assessors Portal ( www.saa.gov.uk ). This information is shown as follows:

  

 Number of Properties
 Rateable Value of Property


 Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
 Total up to £15,000


 Perth and Kinross
 5,135
 378
 528
 6,041



  Notes:

  (i) The rateable value ranges shown in the table correspond to those on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

  (ii) The table shows the number of non-domestic properties (excluding zero-rated subjects) with rateable values of up to £15,000 in all of Perth and Kinross, which is the local authority area in which the Perth parliamentary constituency is situated.

  (iii) The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties in each area, because some businesses have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland which a business owns, leases or is otherwise entitled to occupy;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes, and

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

Non-Domestic Rates

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available for the local authority area concerned on the Scottish Assessors Portal ( www.saa.gov.uk ). This information is shown as follows:

  

 Number of Properties
 Rateable Value of Property


 Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
 Total up to £15,000


 Dumfries and Galloway
 6,307
 280
 435
 7,022



  Notes:

  (i) The rateable value ranges shown in the table correspond to those on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

  (ii) The table shows the number of non-domestic properties (excluding zero-rated subjects) with rateable values of up to £15,000 in the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area.

  (iii) The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties in each area, because some businesses have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland which a business owns, leases or is otherwise entitled to occupy;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes, and

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

Pre-School Education

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a peripatetic teacher visiting a nursery school on a regular basis is sufficient to fulfil the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide access to a fully qualified teacher for every nursery child.

Adam Ingram: The level of teacher involvement required in pre-school education will depend on the characteristics of each individual centre. Different models of teacher involvement, including peripatetic teachers, may be appropriate depending on the type of centre and the way it operates.

  We will be developing guidance in partnership with local government on the deployment of teachers in pre-school education.

Pre-School Education

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4292 by Adam Ingram on 4 October 2007, whether the Scottish Government can now state how many teachers would be required to deliver a fully qualified nursery teacher in every class for every nursery age child.

Adam Ingram: The number of teachers required to provide every pre-school child with access to a teacher will depend on the way in which teachers are deployed. The concordat with COSLA includes an agreement to give every pre-school child access to a teacher as soon as possible. We are working with partners in local government to take forward this commitment. We expect to have 20,000 teachers in training between 2007-11 as support to workforce requirements, class size reductions and teachers for nursery age children.

Pre-School Education

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following its discussions with COSLA, as referred to by the First Minister at First Minister’s Question Time on 15 November 2007, when parents can expect a fully qualified nursery teacher for every child in nursery school.

Adam Ingram: The concordat with COSLA includes an agreement to provide access to a nursery teacher for every pre-school child as soon as possible. We will be developing guidance in partnership with local government on the deployment of teachers in pre-school education. The amount of teacher involvement in pre-school education will be monitored through the annual pre-school and childcare statistics.

Prison Service

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15069 by Mr Jim Wallace on 26 April 2001, whether the number of Catholic prisoners is now proportionate to the number of Catholics in Scotland.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Further to the response to S1W-15069 on 26 April 2001, a further survey was carried out in October 2007. Each prisoner’s religion is among routine information collected on admission. The breakdown of prison population’s declared religious beliefs was as follows:

  

 Religion
 No of Prisoners
 Percentage


 Buddhist
 15
<1.0


 Christian
 201
 2.7


 Church Of England
 82
 1.0


 Church Of Scotland
 2,482
 34.3


 Muslim
 137
 1.5


 None
 2,496
 34.3


 Other
 86
 1.0


 Roman Catholic
 1,776
 24.4


 Total
 7,275

Public Appointments

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies have an upper age limit for people appointed to serve on them and what that limit is in each case.

John Swinney: There is no upper age limit for members who serve on regulated public bodies. Public appointments to regulated bodies are made under the code of practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. All appointments are governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit.

Public Bodies

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies it has established since May 2007 which are (a) VAT exempt and (b) not VAT exempt.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any public bodies have lost their VAT exemption since May 2007.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies that it plans to create will be (a) VAT exempt and (b) not VAT exempt.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out, or intends to carry out, a review of public bodies to ensure that the most favourable VAT position applies to each of them.

John Swinney: There have been no new non-departmental public bodies set up since May 2007. The VAT status of a public body is set out in the VAT Act 1994 and is dependent on a bodies legal status. When setting up any body, the ability of that body to carry out its functions to the best of their ability, and not VAT implications is the overriding factor in deciding on its status. So there is no question of any public body losing their ability to reclaim VAT since May 2007 - nor is there value in reviewing their individual status.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will prioritise any additional spending not detailed in the 2007 spending review if additional resources become available.

John Swinney: Decisions on the future spending plans and their prioritisation will only be made if additional resources become available. Our spending plans are set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 and make full use of the resources currently available to us.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects any end-year flexibility money to be available for redistribution as a result of its decision to over-allocate £100 million in 2008-09, £100 million in 2009-10 and £24 million in 2010-11.

John Swinney: In view of the very tight spending review settlement from the UK Government the degree of flexibility available to us will be much less than in the past. The known balance of end-year flexibility money is already fully committed to support our spending plans as set out in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects to be held on account with HM Treasury by the end of (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11.

John Swinney: As set out in the Spending Review document we have secured an unprecedented agreement with the UK government to make full use of Scotland’s EYF balances held by HM Treasury over the spending review period. Details of the balance held on account are published annually by HM Treasury. The 2007-08 year end balance is expected to be published in July 2008.

Sport

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Communities and Sport will meet me to discuss the provision of community sports facilities in the Inch area of the Edinburgh South parliamentary constituency.

Stewart Maxwell: I would be happy to meet the member to discuss sports issues. The member should contact my diary secretary to arrange a mutually convenient time.

St Andrew's Day

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its employees offered to take St Andrew’s Day as one of their public holidays.

John Swinney: One hundred and seventy-four staff within core Scottish Government.

Wildlife

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations have met ministers or officials since 17 May 2007 to discuss a ban on snaring.

Michael Russell: My officials and I have met with the League Against Cruel Sports, the SSPCA, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the RSPB, the Game Conservancy Trust and the Moorland Forum since 17 May 2007 to discuss the future of snaring.